Letters to us for Santa; we'll forward them

Editor's Note: If you've ever been at the North Pole at
Christmastime, and if Santa has let you read some of the letters he
gets from children, you know the range: funny, sad, quirky,
poignant, beautiful, generous, direct, cautious, hopeful.

If you have not been at the North Pole, that's OK because we are
Santa's helpers this year. He said it was OK to set up, on our Web
site, www.nctimes.com, a place for our readers to write him. We
will send them on to him, of course.

But first, we want to print them, right here, which Santa said
was also OK. Read them all, if you have the time. Each is a little
present to you, and if each does not in some way touch your heart,
we'll be surprised.

We find them all remarkable, but two especially caught our
eye.

Kelley wrote: "I would like to get some cash, about $70.00. A
baseball. A golf kit. Ice skates size 5 1/2. I will leave you milk
and cookies."

- David wrote: "Please bring my mom something. Daddy died and
mom had to quit working because of her back. They almost turned off
our phone."

Please read quickly. Santa is waiting.

- "Dear Santa Claus: I would like to get some clothes from
ABERCROMBIE. Or if I don't get a laptop from my parents I would
like that instead. I hope you can help david and his mom. Thank you
very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE, KASEY ( p.s. I'm your
biggest FAN!!!!! )"

- "Dear Santa, Merry Christmas. Me and my mom just read the
other letters. Please bring something nice for David and his mom
and also for Brandy and her best friend's mom. All I really want is
a good Christmas with my family. I think that you might be friends
with God. Could you tell him to bless everyone for Christmas and to
say hi to my little sister, my cousin Joey and my Guela." Maria

- "Dear Santa, I have been really good. How have you been? I saw
your book "Careful, Santa." I like the part when you lost the
presents, but at the end you got them back. I wish I could have
pencils, erasers, and pom poms for Christmas. I deserve them
because I have been good at home and at school." Shanya

- "Dear Santa, Merry Christmas. I really don't care what you
give me because I love you. Maybe a Hot Wheel with flames and a new
motor cycle game for my game boy. That's all I want to say. Love,
Nathan"

- "Dear Santa, I would like my own Gameboy. I would also like
the third Star Wars movie, Revenge of the Sith. A new game would be
nice, but I don't know which one. My cat would like some new
treats. Thats all, I think. We will leave cookies for you and
reindeer food for the reindeer." Stephen

- "Dear Santa, I just read some of the other letters, so please
give Lupe and Allie good presents. I really do not need any more
things. Love you gabby"

- "Dear Santa, I've been very good this year. I've even got
school done in a timely manner. First of all tell my sister to be
nicer to my friends, because some of them end up crying. I would
like a UFO Rubik's cube and a 2x2 miny Rubik's cube please. A Lego
clone turbo tank and a special edition Millenium Falcon, [Lego].
Lastly, a good telelscope would be nice. Sincerely, Marek PS
(Cookies will be waiting.) "

- "Dear santa, I'm not very sure what i would like yet but for
sure i want my dad to have a house that has a huge backyard for our
dogs jake and scooter and a happy christmas for my family and
friends also a home for all of the poor or lost their job. "

- "Hi my name is Leah, I want a game boy and I want a little dog
and a cat. I would like to meet you and your raindeer. I hope you
bring me some presents under the tree. I will leave the rest to you
and I will leave some cookies and milk and a candy cane. I hope you
and comet and rodolph can get to my house and I hope you have a
great christmas eve. "

- "Dear Santa, I would like a jojo dall, slippers, and a stove
set. Santa can you tell my uncle TOM in heaven that I wish him a
merry x-mas and that me and my parents love and miss him so much.
Thank you santa. We have lots of milk and cookies." Kelly

- "Dear santa, i would really like a digital camera for
christmas, but i'm still thinking of others. i would like my little
brother reid to get better and for the home less individuals to all
have a place to stay for the holidays and to enjoy canned food! my
brother jordan has also been good please give him the lego
millenium falcon. I will leave you cookies and milk! merry
christmas!" Hannah

- "Dear Santa, I love you and I'm so happy you're bringing me
presents I like. I like Christmas and we'll have fun and it's
special because God's birthday is coming up. I want a Power Ranger
movie and one dollar and a quarter wrapped in a little box."

- "Dear Santa, I hope you bring lots of presents. I hope you
will not get too cold. I hope you will be careful when you slide on
roof tops. I would like a train table, fire truck, bike and a Lego
bridge and tunnel train set. Have a Merry Christmas. Love,
Will"

- "Dear Santa, Please give my best friend's mom a good
Christmas. My best friend passed away this year and she was very
special and an only child. Thank you Santa. Your friend, Brandy

- "Dear Santa, I want a pink ipod and a bratz doll stuffed
animal. I would also like a princess sleeping beauty doll and a
maybe the cotton candy machine. I also want a stuffed animal puppy
and I want a favorite barbie doll. I was a good girl this year. I
want my own basket of boy barbies and that's all. Thank you and
Merry Christmas Santa." Grace

- "Dear Santa, I am now old enough that I don't require toys for
Christmas. I think this year I would like alot of good cheer and
happy times. I also hope for more people around the world to
remember the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. With out him, there wouldn't be a Christmas
and I wouldn't be writing to you now. Please have a Very Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year! Love your devoted fan, Allie"

- "Dear Santa, I would like lots of barbies, and doll house for
my barbies, and lots of pretty clothes. I want a pretty bike too.
Santa if you could tell my uncle Tom in heaven I love him and miss
him that would be a great x-mas gife too. Love Haley"

"Dear Santa, I would like some games for my computer, and I wish
the troops in Iraq will have a safe, fun, and a merry Christmas.
Thank you Santa" Riley